“The main mission of a president is to unite Chile,” says Sebastián Piñera

The outgoing president of Chile, the conservative Sebastian PiñeraHe said this Sunday after the broad triumph of the left-wing deputy Gabriel Boric in the ballot that “the main mission of a president is to help unite the country and sow peace.”

“Gabriel Boric he will be the president of all Chileans, of those who voted for him, of those who supported José Antonio Kast and also of those who did not vote on this day, “he said in a public statement from La Moneda (government headquarters) Pinera, who will pass the witness to Boric next march.

Beyond the differences, added the president, “we are all Chilean and we all want the best for our country.”

With 98.7% of the polls scrutinized, the former student leader prevailed with 55.8% of the votes and by more than 10 points of difference to the far-right José Antonio Kast, who immediately acknowledged defeat.

Pinera, who ruled in the period 2010-2014 and again since 2018 and will end in 2022, recommended to Boric “Wisdom, prudence, resilience, strength and moderation” and asked “to take care of democracy, peace and healthy coexistence.”

“Today more than 8 million Chileans have voted, one of the highest participations in recent times”added the outgoing president.

Boric, 35, lost the first round by only 2 points of difference to closet and it is the first time since 1999 that a candidate who wins the first round has not won the ballot.

He will also be the most leftist president since the government of the overthrown Salvador Allende (1973-1990) and the first who is not part of the two great blocs that shared power since the return to democracy in 1990.

Boric, linked to the revolts against inequality in 2019, defines himself as an ecologist, feminist and regionalist and wants to expand the role of the State towards a welfare model similar to that of Europe.

Boric It obtained broad support in the capital, where half of the voters are, and in other regions with large urban centers, such as Valparaíso, where it gained almost 20 points of advantage.

It also prevailed in northern regions, such as Antofagasta and Atacama, where in the first round they won either closet or the controversial liberal economist Franco Parisi.

Among the main challenges of the future Government is to channel the social crisis that continues to exist since the 2019 protests, to lead the implementation of the norms of the new Constitution, to live with a highly fragmented Parliament without majorities, and to face the economic challenges left behind. the pandemic.

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